UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPRESS RELEASE

Metropolitan Nicholas Reposes In The Lord

It is with the profound sense of sorrow that the hierarchs, clergy and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA found that His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, spiritual leader of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A., reposed in the Lord on March 13, 2011 after waging a courageous battle with cancer.

For over 28 years, the metropolitan of blessed memory remained a close and intimate friend of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, visiting the parishes of the Church, participating in the clergy conferences and Sobors, etc. In the past several years, since the doctors informed the late metropolitan about his health condition, His Eminence Archbishop Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel of our Church offered a great deal of support to Metropolitan Nicholas, visiting on his behalf various communities of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A., ordaining clergy and blessing parish temples. On Saturday, March 12, 2011, His Eminence Archbishop Antony traveled to Johnstown, PA to visit Metropolitan Nicholas in a local hospice.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, assisted by the clergy of Pittsburgh deanery of the Church paid his last respects and prayed a Memorial service at Christ the Savior Cathedral on Wednesday March 16, 2011, following the arrival of the Metropolitans’ body into his cathedral.

His Eminence Archbishop Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel participated in all of the burial services of their fellow hierarch and concelebrant in Johnstown, PA as well as in Perth Amboy, NJ. His Eminence Archbishop Antony offered personal reflections on Metropolitan Nicholas’ involvement with the clergy and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, while Bishop Daniel offered prayers for one of his consecrators to the Holy Episcopacy.

May Almighty God rest His Newly Departed Servant, God-Loving Metropolitan Nicholas in the Heavenly Mansions, where there is neither sickness, sorrow or pain, but Life Everlasting!

May His Memory Be Eternal!

To Read more about the funeral services of Metropolitan Nicholas, click here>

Dearly beloved clergy and faithful of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA,

ALL GLORY BE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

“With the Saints give rest, O Lord…to the soul of Your servant”…Metropolitan Nicholas, Ruling Hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese – our brother by blood and faith – who served the flock entrusted to his spiritual care with a depth of love and commitment that are seldom witnessed in any aspect of life, in any place in the world today. We mourn the loss of his compassion, his uncommon brotherly support, his sense of humor, his love of the human voice and the heights it can reach as an “instrument” in our worship of the Lord. We will miss the off the cuff remarks during intense situations, which immediately reduced that intensity, yet made points for those who heard to contemplate. We will long for the stark honesty and openness of his expressed opinions.

To Metropolitan Nicholas’ brothers and family members, to the Members of the Diocesan Administration and to all the clergy and faithful of the Carpatho-Russian Church we express, in behalf of all the clergy and faithful of our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, our heartfelt sympathy and love. We embrace you in Christ’s Love. Your Spiritual Father has served you long and well and your grief will most certainly exceed that of all others. You are the seal of the episcopal service of your Spiritual Father. The manner in which you remember him and serve our Lord, following the example that he set for you will be a living testament to his service and thus, his love and teaching will flow through generations to come.

Our brother in service to our Lord, Nicholas, has fought the good fight and he advances into eternity, awaiting the Great and Final Judgment. May his soul rest in eternal happiness and may his memory be eternal in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. May he hear the words we all long to hear from our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ: “Well done good and faithful servant. Come my beloved…enter into the joy of your Master…into the place that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world.” Vichna Yomu Pamyat!